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The figures also show the total crime level has fallen slightly, but a smaller proportion of cases are being solved.

The Opposition says it is clear the Government needs to put more resources into Victoria Police.

But Premier John Brumby says the Government is already tackling alcohol abuse and violent crime.

"We intend to keep up with our efforts in public education, in things like tougher liquor-licencing laws, the Safe Streets Taskforce, all of those things which are about cracking down on binge drinking, cracking down on alcohol abuse and cracking down on night-time violence," he said.

Overall drop

The total crime rate has fallen, as have the number of homicides and rapes.

The Opposition and the Police Association say the figures show the force is under-resourced.

But the Deputy Police commissioner, Kieren Walshe, says new initiatives have been introduced to tackle violent crime.

"There has been a deterioration in public order and we've seen an increase in assaults in and around licensed premises," he said.

"Hence, we released and started our Safe Streets Taskforce in October last year and more recently this year we started our Liquor Licensing Taskforce."

The Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu, says the figures for violent crime show fewer crimes are being solved.

"Dropping clearance rates simply means that police are stretched to the limit," he said.

"They're under the pump, and they can't do what they want to do."

Deputy Commissioner Walshe said the crime statistics are provisional figures and have not been verified.

He says there will be an investigation to find the source of the leak.

"We in Victoria Police are extremely disappointed that that has been undertaken," he said.

"Our concerns is that it provides unnecessary concern in the community until such time as we're in a position to put out verified crime statistics."

Girls gone wildNot long ago, the women in Victorian prisons were there largely because of drug or property-related crimes. But that picture is slowly changing, with a rising number of women being convicted for assault and other violent crimes.

Support for booze public educationA SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.

Message on a bottle for binge drinkers BOTTLES of alcoholic drinks could soon carry graphic pictures warning of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption as part of the Federal Government's latest series of measures to cut down on under-age and binge drinking.